Sen. Doug Jones on Biden: ‘It’s Not What You Intend at the Time, it’s What the Receiver is Feeling’

Former Vice President Joe Biden has been hit with a number of allegations of unwanted physical contact with women. Thus far, the potential 2020 Democratic presidential hopeful has been polling highest of his possible competitors, ahead of Bernie Sanders and Beto O’Rourke, despite not having announced his candidacy. Sen. Doug Jones (D-Ala.), a longtime friend of Biden’s, gave his take on the allegations in a conversation with Bold TV.

“It’s the women who have been on the receiving end, that’s what I think is important,” Jones said. “There have been no allegations that he did anything that was in an assaulting way or a harassment way … it’s not what you intend at the time, it’s what the receiver is feeling. And I think that’s important, and I think going forward, it’s a lesson for a lot of men in this country.”

In its promotional materials, Biden endorsed Jones’ new book, “Bending Toward Justice: The Birmingham Church Bombing that Changed the Course of Civil Rights.”

“I know he has come under some criticism lately, and I think he is learning a lot from this, but I’ve always believed that Joe Biden would be a great president,” Jones said. “He’s been a friend of mine for 40 years, I’ve talked to him regularly, I think he gets in, but at the same time what I want to see both the Democratic Party and both the Republican Party are not discussions about fear and the issues that divide us. I want to see who it is within the party that can bring people together.”

On Wednesday, Biden released a video, stating that he would “be more mindful and respectful of people’s personal space.” Biden has been a strong proponent of the #MeToo movement, touring colleges across the country with his “Its On Us” initiative aimed to prevent sexual assault. Yet his own “Bidening” may have pushed the boundaries between the generational divide that separates Biden from many of the other Democratic 2020 candidates.

President Trump tweeted his own version of Biden’s apology clip, a satire poking fun at Biden’s history.

Was Biden’s apology enough? Will this ensure Biden still runs for President?